Fighting Tsunade

Osaka Rukawa led everyone to the training ground.

Since they were going to spar in actual combat, it definitely had to be in an open area; classrooms could only provide theoretical lessons.

"The two who drew number one, step forward," Osaka Rukawa commanded.

Orochimaru and a silver-haired boy stepped out from the crowd.

Watanabe recognized the silver-haired boy. His name was Hiruko, and he was also a commoner, but he wasn't an orphan; his parents were alive and well.

There were quite a few commoner students in the class, yet Watanabe was the one struggling the most. He had tried his best, but his aptitude was simply not good enough.

I just hope the system can improve my aptitude and let me go further on the path of a ninja.

Watanabe sighed inwardly, only wanting to figure out how to use the system as quickly as possible.

Orochimaru and Hiruko immediately began their spar. Both of them were very proficient in the Three Body Techniques, mixing various ninjutsu with taijutsu, fighting fiercely.

"They're so strong."

"Orochimaru and Hiruko should both have the strength of a genin."

"If this were during the First Shinobi World War, they could definitely graduate early!"

The surrounding students exclaimed in amazement. Osaka Rukawa, who was taking notes at the side, secretly agreed.

Graduating early is a trap, Watanabe couldn't help but complain in his heart.

The graduation requirements for the Ninja Academy were very lenient, only requiring students to complete six years of study and master the Three Body Techniques. Even someone like Watanabe, who was at the bottom, could achieve this, let alone a top student like Orochimaru.

Speaking of which, Watanabe and Orochimaru's generation were lucky to be born in a time of peace, able to spend their childhood carefree at the Ninja Academy.

If they had been born seven or eight years earlier, during the First Shinobi World War, regardless of your age, as long as you mastered the Three Body Techniques, even if you were only eight or nine years old, Konoha's higher-ups would have forcibly required you to graduate early and then sent you to the battlefield as cannon fodder.

This was precisely the main reason why Watanabe found the Will of Fire hypocritical and ridiculous. If the Will of Fire were truly as noble as the Konoha higher-ups claimed, with the older generation sacrificing for the younger, they wouldn't have let children join the fight during the First Shinobi World War. Instead, the middle-aged and older generations of the village should have stepped up, and only after they were all gone should the Ninja Academy students be deployed.

The Konoha higher-ups preached the Will of Fire while sending eight and nine-year-old children to the battlefield, yet they themselves hid in the safety of their headquarters. If this wasn't hypocrisy, what was?

In any case, Watanabe had already decided. If he could live peacefully in Konoha, he would stay honestly. If he couldn't, and was treated as a pawn or cannon fodder by Konoha's higher-ups, he would find an opportunity to defect and slip away.

Everyone was living for the first time. Expecting me to sacrifice myself for your high-level ambitions was impossible.

"I concede," Hiruko said, getting up covered in dirt, his face full of unwillingness.

"Thank you for the match," Orochimaru calmly replied, forming a reconciliation seal with him.

"You two were both excellent," Osaka Rukawa praised with a chuckle.

Osaka Rukawa had recorded the combat performance of the two in his notebook. This notebook would later be submitted to the Third Hokage, so he could clearly see which outstanding talents the Ninja Academy had in recent years, and who could be specially cultivated after graduation.

"Next, the ones who drew number two, step forward," Osaka Rukawa continued.

Jiraiya and Inuzuka Tsume stepped out of the crowd, starting the second round of sparring.

Jiraiya looks shifty and sleazy, yet he's actually this strong. Truly, you can't judge a book by its cover, Watanabe thought inwardly. He had been at the Ninja Academy for a month, and combined with the memories of the original owner, he felt Jiraiya was a problematic youth, very lecherous, often flirting with female classmates. A few times, he had even teased Tsunade and received a good beating from her.

The result of the second round of sparring quickly came out. Jiraiya won, and Inuzuka Tsume was knocked to the ground.

"Everyone, don't be mesmerized by my powerful aura," Jiraiya said, shaking his hair and striking a pose he thought was cool, winking at the girls.

Watanabe: "..."

Everyone else: "..."

"Disgusting," Tsunade spat, suppressing the urge to beat Jiraiya up.

Osaka Rukawa directly sent Jiraiya off and called for the person who drew number three to step forward.

Tsunade appeared with graceful poise, her golden ponytail swaying behind her. Her features were fair and delicate. The only flaw was her flat chest, almost nonexistent. Perhaps she was too young and hadn't developed yet.

"It's Tsunade's turn!"

"Go Tsunade!"

Tsunade was undoubtedly a prominent figure at the Ninja Academy. As soon as she appeared, she immediately drew cheers and encouragement from everyone. Among them, Jiraiya cheered the loudest, constantly calling out "Tsunade-chan," which made Tsunade's forehead veins bulge.

Seeing only Tsunade step forward, Osaka Rukawa couldn't help but frown. "There's one more person. Who drew number three?"

Everyone was stunned, realizing at that moment that the person scheduled to spar with Tsunade hadn't appeared.

Watanabe felt like crying, thinking his luck had run out. The person who also drew number three was him.

If he were to spar with other students of average strength, he would naturally lose, but at least he would lose somewhat gracefully. Against Tsunade, however, there was no suspense; he would be utterly crushed.

"It's me," Watanabe replied, steeling himself.

In an instant, everyone's gaze fell on him, lost in thought.

"So it's Watanabe."

"No wonder he didn't dare step forward. He's the dead last in the class, definitely no match for Tsunade."

"Honestly, he should just surrender. There's no point in him sparring with Tsunade, the gap is too huge."

"Forget Tsunade, Watanabe can't beat anyone."

"I could flip Watanabe over with one hand."

"..."

The crowd buzzed with discussion, some gloating and mocking, none holding out hope for Watanabe.

"Is this guy going to surrender?"

Tsunade looked at Watanabe, seeing he had no intention of stepping onto the stage, and felt a little disappointed.

She pitied Watanabe only because of his unfortunate background, but if he didn't even have the courage to fight her, then he was simply too cowardly.

Ōban Rukawa remained silent. He held no prejudice against his students; whether Watanabe surrendered or fought, it was his decision to make.

In fact, Watanabe was indeed considering surrendering at that moment.

He had no choice but to surrender. He was bound to lose against Tsunade. Perhaps once he thoroughly understood the system, he could surpass Tsunade later...

[Karma Reversal activated.]

A line of light screens popped up, and Watanabe was slightly taken aback.

[Being Underestimated: Confidence +3, Charm +3, Courage +4, Spirit +2.]

"..."

What the heck??

A surge of heroism suddenly ignited within Watanabe, making him feel like he could look down on all the students in the Ninja Academy.

His head was buzzing, and he was a bit dazed.

So this is how the system was used?

After a moment's thought, he walked towards Tsunade, facing the contemptuous and mocking gazes of everyone.

"He actually dares to go on stage!"

"That's Tsunade! Isn't Watanabe just asking for humiliation?"

"I guarantee Tsunade will send him flying with one punch!"